Method and system to process television program summary

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method and system for displaying video streams, including receiving video data from a plurality of video stream by a frame controller in communication with a television display including a first picture and a second picture, and also receiving a television program summary list. The television program summary list includes television program data corresponding to the received video streams, and displaying the television program summary list in the second picture, and allowing the selection of a program from the television program summary list by a consumer, and displaying the selected video stream in the first picture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to media, and more particularly, to amethod and system to tailor displaying on a television set based on atelevision program summary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is commonplace today for cable television and satellite televisionnetworks to carry several hundred channels. Typically, even a subscriberto basic services gets over 50 channels. It is not uncommon for asubscriber to have over 100 channels available with a subscription.Advances in Internet video and television make available thousands morechannels and videos for consumer entertainment. When a consumer wants tospend an hour watching television, they may have, at their choice,thousands and thousands of television programs available during thehour. Choosing a television program or channel to watch may then becomea non-trivial and painful task, defeating the purpose of watchingtelevision as an entertaining event.

Many Internet videos and television channels are closely related totelevision programs shown on regular television channels, yet consumerscannot view a television program and switch to related Internet videoseasily on their television set.

For example, in one scenario, Lucy has a television set connected to acable television network, and an Internet television set-top boxallowing her to watch televised video on the Internet. Lucy wants towatch cooking programs, hoping to find a special dish to make for aweekend party. Lucy scans all the cable channels plus at least a hundredInternet television channels before she finds a channel she likes.

In another exemplary scenario, Jack is watching live televised Olympicsevents on television. Jack learns that there are at least 100 broadcastand Internet television channels showing Olympic events. These hundredchannels publish program schedules of several possible events. Due tothe unpredictable timing of an event, the channels do not publish a firmprogram schedule. The program schedules suggest consumers to check thechannels for the actual events covered. After watching a 100 m freestyleswimming heat, Jack wants to watch a bicycle racing event. Jack flipsthrough the hundred channels to find an Internet television channeltelevising a bicycle race.

Thus, there is a need to tailor display of a television set based on atelevision program summary and updates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a television system andmethod including a frame controller for receiving video data from avideo stream. The frame controller is further in communication with atelevision display. The television display includes a first picture anda second picture, and the video stream is displayed in the firstpicture. The frame controller further receives a television programsummary list and displays it in the second picture. The televisionprogram summary list includes television program data for at least onetelevision program.

In one aspect of the invention, the television program data includes aprogram title, a channel reference, a schedule, and a preview.

In another aspect of the invention, the frame controller allows aconsumer to select a television program from the television programsummary list.

In one aspect of the invention, the frame controller selects atelevision program from the television program summary list and displaysthe selected television program in the first picture.

In one aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to an image andsound signal from a multi-channel operator.

In another aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to an imageand sound signal from a multi-service operator.

In another aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to one ofan online Internet television portal, a satellite television network, acable television network, or a broadcast television network.

In another aspect of the invention, the television program data furthercomprises consumer comments regarding at least one television program.

In another aspect of the invention, the television program summary listincludes television program data for a plurality of television programshaving a common theme.

In another aspect of the invention, the frame controller furtherreceives a television program summary list update including updatedtelevision program data.

In another aspect of the invention, the television program summary listis updated with the updated television program data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television set tuned to atelevision programming summary channel, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program summary,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating television program summaryprocessing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process for receiving atelevision programming summary update, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specificnumbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however,to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In some instances, well-knownfeatures may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the presentinvention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “oneembodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearancesof the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specificationare not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The term “video data” referred to in the descriptions of variousembodiments of the invention herein described is intended to generallydescribe electronic audio and video signals containing or incorporatingvideo for display on a television or other video display device. Thisterm is used in the broadest sense as known in the electronic arts, andmay include analog and/or digital signals. Likewise, the term “videostream” is used in a non-limiting fashion and generally refers to thecollection of video data, together with any carrier signals, dataheaders or other electronic information, which singularly or takentogether allow the described embodiments to operate. For example, adigital video stream from a given video source might include multiplepackets of compressed video data, each packet or group thereof havingone or more packet headers. Typically, one or more of the headersincludes information relating to the video data, such as the compressionalgorithm used, the aspect ratio, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary television set 100 tuned to a televisionprogramming summary channel. In an embodiment of the invention,television set 100 is an electronic device that receives image and soundsignals from a plurality of television channels, including a broadcastchannel 161 and a television program summary (“TPS”) channel 165.Broadcast channel 161 relates to image and sound signal source 191. Inone embodiment, signal source 191 is from a broadcast televisionnetwork, a cable television network, a satellite television network, anonline Internet television portal, or any other multi-service ormulti-channel operator, while TPS channel 165 relates to image and soundsignal source 195, which may be from a web portal or a web site. Invarious embodiments signal source 195 may be from the Internet, a homenetwork, an enterprise network, or a public network, such as a communitynetwork, a WiFi hotspot, a service network of a merchant such as acoffee shop or a restaurant, or other signal source, without limitation.

Also in an embodiment, television set 100 includes picture 121 andpicture 125, which are controlled by a frame controller 150, whichdisplays broadcast channel 161 onto picture 121, and Internet channel165 onto picture 125. The frame controller 150 displays picture 121 andpicture 125 simultaneously.

In one embodiment, the frame controller 150 is included in televisionset 100. In another embodiment, the frame controller 150 connects totelevision set 100 through an interface. The interface may be an RFinterface, a HDMI interface, an S-video interface, a componentinterface, a composite interface, a network interface, or a wirelessnetwork interface such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), an Ultra-Wideband (UWB)network, or other suitable interface, without limitation.

In various embodiments of the invention, the frame controller 150connects to a broadcast television channel input 190, such as anantenna, cable television network, satellite television network, IPTV.The broadcast television channel input 190 includes a signal source 191.The frame controller 150 also connects to a data network 193, which mayinclude a home network, an Ethernet network, a WiFi network, a DSLnetwork, an Intranet network, a hotspot network, a public data network,a cellular data network, or a private data network. Data network 193includes signal source 195.

In exemplary operation, the frame controller 150 receives a televisionprogram summary (“TPS”) list 180 from TPS channel 165. The TPS listincludes television program data, i.e., information about or concerningthe listed television programs. TPS channel 165 may be served by anetwork computer 120. Frame controller 150 connects to the networkcomputer 120 through a data network 193. In various embodiments, thenetwork computer 120 is a media server, a media center, a web server, acontent delivery platform server, or a video server, without limitation.

In an embodiment, frame controller 150 connects to the network computer120 over a communication session 145, which may be included in TPSchannel 165. Communication session 145 may be based on IP or Webtechnologies. In one scenario wherein communication session 145 is aHTTP session, frame controller 150 sends a HTTP request to the networkcomputer 120, and receives a Web page including TPS list 180, such as anHTML page.

In one embodiment, the frame controller 150 displays TPS list 180 ontopicture 125 and further selects broadcast channel 161 based on TPS list180, and displays broadcast channel 161 onto picture 121.

At a later time, frame controller 150 may receive a TPS list update 182from TPS channel 165. For example, frame controller 150 sends a HTTPrequest to network computer 120 and receives a HTML web page includingTPS list update 182. TPS list update 182 is an update of TPS list 180,and the frame controller 150 modifies TPS list 180 based on TPS listupdate 182. Frame controller 150 then displays the modified TPS list 180onto picture 125. In a further example, frame controller 150 mightselect broadcast channel 162, different from broadcast channel 161,based on modified TPS list 180. Frame controller 150 then displaysbroadcast channel 162 onto picture 121.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary TPS. TPS list 180 includes TPS 171,which further includes information related to a television program 175from broadcast channel 161, program title 210, channel reference 211,schedule 214, and, optionally, a preview 216. Program title 210 is atitle of television program 175. Examples of program titles 210 includesa name, such as “CSI: Miami”, “NFL Super Bowl XLII”, “ER”, or “BatmanReturns”.

Channel reference 211 references to broadcast channel 161. for example,channel reference 211 may include a URL format such astv://OTA/channel/34 indicating broadcast channel 161 being off-the-airchannel number 34, or tv://cable/channel/7 indicating cable channelnumber 7. Other examples include sub-channels, such as tv://channel/7.4indicating sub-channel 4 of channel 7. In another example, channelreference 211 may include a name such as “espn” indicating broadcastchannel 161 having a channel name “espn”, or a number such as “38”indicating broadcast channel 161 having a channel number “38”.

Schedule 214 references a time/date when television program 175 is to beshown on broadcast channel 161. For example, schedule 214 includes adate and starting time. In another example, schedule 214 includes anending time, or duration of television program 175. In another example,television program 175 is a television series, and schedule 214 includesa plurality of times. In yet another example, schedule 214 includes adaily, weekly or monthly schedule for television program 175.

Preview 216 includes image and sound signals. For example, preview 216may include a video file such as a Moving Pictures Expert Group v4.0(MPEG-4) file, an Audio Video Interleave (AVI) file, a Flash Video (FLV)file, or a Quicktime MOV file. In one embodiment, preview 216 includes avideo stream such as an MPEG-2 stream, MPEG-1 stream, or H.264/MPEG-4AVC stream. In another embodiment, preview 216 includes an AdvancedStream Redirector (ASX) metafile.

In various embodiments, TPS 171 may include additional information, suchas television program rating, user review, content classification,casts, or a score of a sport event, individually or in combination.Additional information may also include a monetary amount or tokenamount for viewing the television program.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary processing of a TPS. In operation, framecontroller 150 receives TPS 171 from TPS channel 165, and displays TPS171 onto picture 125. For example, frame controller 150 receives imageand sound signals of preview 216 and displays the signals onto picture125. In another example, frame controller 150 displays schedule 214 ontopicture 125. Additionally, frame controller 150 may display programtitle 210 and channel reference 211 onto picture 125, and perhaps theadditional information of TPS 171 as well.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list 180 includes a second TPS172, which may also be displayed by the frame controller 150.

In an embodiment of the invention, frame controller 150 determinesbroadcast channel 161 for picture 121, based on TPS list 180. Forexample, frame controller 150 selects TPS 171, and processes channelreference 211 to determine displaying broadcast channel 161.

Alternatively, frame controller 150 connects to user 110, using an inputinterface module such as a pointing device, a remote control, anelectronic programming guide, or a button. Frame controller 150 thendisplays TPS 171 as a user selectable object in picture 125, and user110 selects TPS 171 from picture 125. Frame controller 150 selects TPS171, based on selection of user 110, to determine displaying broadcastchannel 161.

In one embodiment, frame controller 150 includes a clock 153. Framecontroller 150 obtains current time 157 from clock 153. Frame controller150 compares current time 157 with schedule 214 of TPS 171 anddetermines current time 157 is within schedule 214. Frame controller 150selects TPS 171.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list 180 includes TPS 172. TPS171 follows TPS 172 in TPS list 180. TPS 172 relates to televisionprogram 176 from broadcast channel 162. Frame controller 150 displaystelevision program 176 from broadcast channel 162. In one embodiment,frame controller 150 tracks broadcast channel 162 and determines whentelevision program 176 ends. Frame controller 150 selects TPS 171 todetermine broadcast channel 161 for picture 121. In operation, framecontroller 150 determines that current time 157 exceeds or equals to theend time of the schedule of TPS 172, and then selects TPS 171 fordisplay.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process to receive a televisionprogramming summary update. In operation, after frame controller 150receives TPS 180 from TPS channel 165, frame controller 150 furtherreceives TPS list update 182 from TPS channel 165. Frame controller 150may receive a TPS list update 182 regularly after a pre-determinedperiod of time, or periodically. In one example, frame controller 150receives a TPS list update 182 when TPS list update 182 is madeavailable on TPS channel 165. In another, frame controller 150 sends anupdate request to network computer 120, and receives TPS list update 182based on the update request.

Once the TPS list update 182 is received, the frame controller 150modifies TPS list 180 with the TPS list update 182. In one embodiment,frame controller 150 replaces TPS list 180 with TPS list update 182. Inanother embodiment, TPS list update 182 includes TPS 178, and the framecontroller 150 adds TPS 178 into TPS list 180. In one embodiment, TPS178 has the same program title 210 as TPS 171, and frame controller 150replaces TPS 171 by TPS 178. In another embodiment, TPS list update 182includes a removal instruction in TPS 178, and frame controller 150removes TPS 171 from TPS list 180. In one embodiment, TPS 178 includesadditional information relating television program 175, and framecontroller 150 combines the additional information in TPS 178 into TPS171.

After modifying the TPS list 180, the frame controller 150 displays themodified TPS list 180 onto picture 125. In one embodiment, framecontroller 150 updates picture 121 by selecting broadcast channel 162based on the modified TPS list 180, according to the process in FIG. 3.In another embodiment, broadcast channel 162 is different from broadcastchannel 161, and frame controller 150 displays broadcast channel 162onto picture 121.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS channel 165 provides a televisionprogram guide for broadcast channel 161, wherein TPS list 180 is adaily, weekly or monthly program guide. TPS list 180 includesinformation relating to a plurality of television programs to be shownon broadcast channel 161. TPS channel 165 updates TPS list 180regularly, for example hourly, daily, weekly or monthly. In oneembodiment, TPS channel 165 updates TPS list 180 whenever there is achange in television program scheduling.

In one embodiment, TPS channel 165 provides a program guide for atelevised event, such as the Olympics, an NFL sport program for 2008, ortelevised movies for the coming week.

In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list 180 comprises a plurality ofprograms TPS related to a common theme. For example, the theme may berelated to an ethnic group, such as Japanese, French, or Spanish. Inanother example, the theme may be related to an age group, such as kids,teens, or adults. In another example, the theme may be related to agender, like female or male. In another example, the theme may berelated to an activity, such as cooking or home repair. In yet anotherexample, the theme may be related to current events, such as the weatheror news. In a last example, preview 216 of TPS 171 may include a summaryof weather conditions, and broadcast channel 161 may be a weatherchannel.

In an embodiment of the invention, additional information of TPS 171includes user comment or criticism of television program 175, and framecontroller 150 displays the user comment/criticism on picture 125. In afurther embodiment, after viewing television program 175, the consumer110 may provide comment/criticism about television program 175 to framecontroller 150, which then sends the consumer comment/criticism tonetwork computer 120.

Additional information of TPS 171 may also include demographic and/orpopularity information for television program 175. Frame controller 150displays the demographic information/popularity information on picture125, and consumer 110 selects TPS 171 based on the displayedinformation. In an embodiment, after consumer 110 selects TPS 171, framecontroller 150 sends the selection of TPS 171 to network computer 120.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A television system, comprising: a framecontroller coupled to an Internet television channel input and a networkcomputer, the Internet television channel input comprising a pluralityof Internet television channels, the frame controller configured to:receive first video data from a first video stream of a first televisionprogram from a first Internet television channel; receive from thenetwork computer a schedule of a second television program comprising afirst start time for the second television program; display in a firstpicture, on a display coupled to the frame controller, the first videodata from the received first video stream from the first Internettelevision channel; and during displaying of the first video data fromthe received first video stream: receive an updated schedule comprisinga second start time for the second television program from the networkcomputer, wherein the second start time is earlier than the first starttime; upon receiving the updated schedule, display a preview video datafor the second television program in a second picture simultaneouslywith the display of the first video data in the first picture; and upondetermining that a current time equals or exceeds the second start time,receive second video data from a second video stream of the secondtelevision program from a second Internet television channel; anddisplay in the first picture the second video data from the second videostream of the second television program.
 2. The television system ofclaim 1, wherein the display of the preview video data comprises:display the preview video data in the second picture as a selectableobject; and upon receiving a selection of the selectable object,determine whether a current time equals or exceeds the second starttime.
 3. The television system of claim 1, wherein the preview videodata for the second television program is received from the networkcomputer.
 4. The television system of claim 1, wherein the updatedschedule further comprises the preview video data for the secondtelevision program.
 5. The television system of claim 1, wherein thenetwork computer comprises a media server, a media center, a web server,a content delivery platform servicer, or a video server.
 6. Thetelevision system of claim 1, wherein the preview video data comprisesvideo data from a third video stream.
 7. The television system of claim1, wherein the frame controller is further configured to: receive thirdvideo data from a third video stream of a third television program froma third Internet television channel; and display in the second picturethe third video data from the third video stream of the third televisionprogram simultaneously with the display of the second video data in thefirst picture.
 8. A method for displaying a television program,comprising: (a) receiving, by a frame controller coupled to an Internettelevision channel input and a network computer, first video data from afirst video stream of a first television program from a first Internettelevision channel, the Internet television channel input comprising aplurality of Internet television channels; (b) receiving, by the framecontroller from the network computer, a schedule of a second televisionprogram comprising a first start time for the second television program;(c) displaying in a first picture, on a display coupled to the framecontroller, the first video data from the received first video streamfrom the first Internet television channel; and (d) during thedisplaying of the first video data from the received first video stream:(d1) receiving an updated schedule comprising a second start time forthe second television program from the network computer, wherein thesecond start time is earlier than the first start time; (d2) uponreceiving the updated schedule, displaying a preview video data for thesecond television program in a second picture simultaneously with thedisplay of the first video data in the first picture; and (d3) upondetermining that a current time equals or exceeds the second start time,receiving second video data from a second video stream of the secondtelevision program from a second Internet television channel; and (d4)displaying in the first picture the second video data from the secondvideo stream of the second television program.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the displaying (d2) comprises: (d2i) displaying the previewvideo data in the second picture as a selectable object; and (d2ii) uponreceiving a selection of the selectable object, determining whether acurrent time equals or exceeds the second start time.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the preview video data for the second televisionprogram is received from the network computer.
 11. The method of claim8, wherein the updated schedule further comprises the preview video datafor the second television program.
 12. The method of claim 8, whereinthe network computer comprises a media server, a media center, a webserver, a content delivery platform servicer, or a video server.
 13. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the preview video data comprises video datafrom a third video stream.
 14. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: (e) receiving third video data from a third video stream ofa third television program from a third Internet television channel; and(f) displaying in the second picture the third video data from the thirdvideo stream of the third television program simultaneously with thedisplay of the second video data in the first picture.